Graduating Senior Spotlight: Vivianne Nguyen

What brought you to the University of Minnesota and how did you end up choosing your major(s) and minor(s)?

A lot of my family had also attended the University of Minnesota, and I never really imagined having my college experience anywhere else. In the fall of 2019, I started as a full-time PSEO student at UMN during my junior and senior years of high school, and I continued the rest of my undergraduate career here through spring 2025. I was originally a human physiology major, but switching to being a biology, society, & environment (BSE) major allowed me to pursue a health psychology minor, have more flexible selection in courses that I needed to fulfill Physician Assistant (PA) school prerequisites, and write an Honors Thesis based on a topic in psychology. 

Tell us about a class you still think a lot about.

I still often think about PSY 1001H - Honors Introduction to Psychology, even though I had taken it during my first semester as a first-year student. Being a part of the Honors discussion group, where Dr. Liza Meredith was our discussion leader, allowed me to participate in memorable activities like various puzzles and riddles, marshmallow and spaghetti towers, and observing how children play at the Child Development Laboratory School for extra credit. It was truly my gateway into the wonderful world of psychology, and I’ve taken so many psychology courses since then: PSY 3031 [Introduction to Sensation and Perception], 3604 [Introduction to Psychopathology], 3206 [Introduction to Health Psychology], 3801 [Introduction to Psychological Measurement and Data Analysis], 3001W [Introduction to Research Methods], 3993 [Directed Study], and 4521 [Psychology of Stress and Trauma], that I eventually decided to minor in health psychology and focus my Honors Thesis on psychology.

What are some ways you have found community within your major/minor department(s)? 

My friend introduced me to the very new student organization at the time, known as United Mission for Relief and Development, and I discovered that many of the original board members were also BSE majors. I’ve been a board member myself for two years now, and I also became an organic chemistry lab partner with another one of the original board members. Although I had been the first Asian board member, I was excited to be a part of and learn about a community that was new to me, and I also wanted to be more involved in student group events and volunteering to give back to communities in need. To this day, I still find it astounding how our organization has a profound impact across the globe through our volunteering and fundraising for relief aid for third-world countries. All the people I have gotten to meet along the way are such beautiful souls!

What's next for you? What are your post-graduation plans?

After a long, challenging, and busy year of the PA application process and flying out of state for several interviews while taking full-credit-load semesters, I have been accepted into and am going to attend the University of Toledo PA Program in Ohio that begins in August 2025! I will be moving out for the first time this summer, and I have recently signed my apartment lease with three other roommates who will also be fellow PA students. Although it is very bittersweet leaving UMN and Minnesota overall, since it is all I have ever known, I am also so incredibly grateful for what the future holds for me and am looking forward to this new chapter in my life.

If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you say?

Music is a universal language that transcends all borders and connects people across all races, genders, and languages. I highly value connecting with others on a profoundly empathetic level, and there are few things that make my heart pound and my soul soar more than the sheer beauty of live music. I started raving in college, and it has become my most meaningful hobby for life. The EDM community emphasizes an exceptionally special philosophy called PLUR, an acronym for Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. It is a beautifully expressive and inclusive culture that I think we should all practice in all aspects of life. We should all be treating others with the same goodness and acceptance that ravers, even those who are complete strangers, treat each other with.